LAHORE Attack on Awami National Party President Asfandyar Wali in the NWFP has forced the Punjab government to review its security arrangements, especially for the foreigners residing in the province and movement of high-ranking officials.

A high-level meeting was held here on Friday to discuss threadbare security arrangements and frame a strategy to pre-empt any such eventuality.

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif chaired the meeting though he was ill and had thus cancelled his other engagements. The inspector general of police gave a detailed briefing about security arrangements.

Adviser to Chief Minister Jehanzeb Burki, chief secretary, home secretary, additional IG Special Branch, capital city police officer and other high-ranking police officials were also present in the meeting.

The chief minister directed that a comprehensive plan should be evolved to effectively combat any emergent situation, firefighting system should be improved and modern equipment of best quality for extinguishing fire and trained staff should be made available.

The chief minister said that law and order was necessary for the rapid development of the province, therefore, establishment of peace was his first priority. He directed the authorities concerned to evolve a comprehensive plan to review professional capabilities of police officials performing important duties on permanent basis.

He said that training of these officials, refresher courses and matters regarding posting of professional officials should be reviewed and free meal should be arranged for the officials deputed on routes during the visits and movements of VVIPs so that they should not face any difficulty during performance of their duty. He said that sniffer dogs were also necessary for security of important places and a training centre should be established for these dogs. He said that services of trainers from abroad could also be hired for this purpose.

He said that facility of fire hydrants on important places for immediately filling the water in firefighting vehicles whereas automatic fire extinguisher systems in hotels, lobbies, shopping plazas and corporate office buildings should be made available.The chief minister also directed that authorities concerned should evolve a system for checking firefighting equipment on regular basis and making firefighting system effective.

He said installation of CCTV cameras and posting of security guards at business and commercial centres should be ensured.